Figure 4
Effect of Misoprostol treatment on localization of vascular endothelial tight junctions occludin and claudin-5. a and b: Representative confocal images comparing expressions of claudin-5 (C-5) (green) and occludin (red) in the cervical vascular endothelium without (4A) and after PG treatment (4B). In the neat (PG-) cervix, C-5 was selectively localized in the endothelium (4A-green) whilst occludin (Ocld) was mainly expressed in the smooth muscle (4A-red). Treatment with misoprostol (M+) induced expressions of both C-5 and occludin (4B) compared to the untreated (M-) cervix (4A). Also, de novo endothelial expression of occludin was seen with PG treatment (4B red vs. 4A red; overlays 4A vs. 4B). Ă— 40, oil immersion; NA = 1.3; Bar 8 ÎĽm. c-d: Representative confocal photomicrographs showing larger calibre of blood vessels in the PG treated (PG+) compared to the untreated (PG-) cervix (Figure 4D Vs. 4C) Ă—20 air objective, NA 0.8, Bar = 8 ÎĽm. Extreme right panels depicting H & E stained histological section of cervical stroma in the M+ and M- tissues. E: Positive and negative controls for occludin and claudin-5.